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OTTAWA — NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair said all the right things in Quebec City on Friday, except when it came to the Senate.

Mulcair told reporters that since he used to work as a Liberal provincial cabinet minister in the 2000s, he is "hyper-sensitive" to the special needs of Quebec.

The NDP leader was in town meeting the new Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, a former colleague in the cabinet of Liberal leader Jean Charest. Mulcair was Quebec environment minister at the same time that Couillard controlled the health portfolio nin the mid 2000s.

Mulcair said an NDP government will focus on the environment and be warm to Quebec's interests. However, despite the fact that Mulcair said he and Couillard spoke mostly about the economy, the thorny issue of the Senate did arise.

Couillard and most Quebec politicians want to keep the Senate as is.

Its structure guarantees Quebec 24 seats out of 105 — the same amount as Ontario despite Quebec having a significantly smaller population.

The demographic changes in Canada have led to the distribution of more House of Commons seats to western provinces — diluting Quebec's influence. However, Quebec's influence in the Senate stays the same.

Mulcair told reporters the Senate is a "nuisance" in a democracy because non-elected senators are able to reject or significantly modify legislation created by elected members of the House.

The NDP's mission to abolish the Red Chamber will likely trigger a battle with Quebec if it ever forms government.

Mulcair acknowledged that he and Couillard have sharply different views on the Senate, however, the NDP's other policies are largely popular in Quebec.

Unlike the Conservatives, the NDP would get rid of tolls on the new multi-billion dollar Champlain Bridge that will connect south Montreal to its suburbs, Mulcair said.